FR3141970A1 - pivot for wheel motor with improved cover - Google Patents

Abstract

Pivot for wheel motor with improved cover Assembly comprising a fork (100) and a cover (300), the base (110) of the fork (100) defining a connecting surface to a support, the pivot axis (Z-Z) being in a pivot plane ( Y-Y), said arm (120) comprising a plurality of housings (140), the cover (300) comprising a plurality of holes (340), defining with the threads (120) two sets of passages, said two housing sets defining a first position and a second position of the cover (300) relative to the fork (100), said cover (300) comprising a hydraulic conduit (310), opening out in a direction (V-V) inclined relative to the pivot axis ( Z-Z), so that in the first position and in the second position of the cover (300) relative to the fork (100), said hydraulic conduit (310) is inclined at an angle greater than 10° relative to the pivot plane (Z-Z). Figure for abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

wheel motor pivot with improved cover

The present invention relates to the field of pivots for hydraulic machines, in particular for driving steering organs.

The assembly of hydraulic machines to drive steering organs such as steered wheels poses various problems, particularly in terms of integration and size.

Among the recurring problems, we can mention the problems linked to the integration of the different pipes between the chassis and a rotating joint formed in the pivot.

The present invention thus aims to respond at least partially to these problems.

The present invention thus relates to an assembly comprising a fork and a cover,
the fork comprising a base adapted to be assembled on a support, and two arms each having a through recess aligned along a pivot axis so as to define a housing adapted to receive a hydraulic machine, the base defining a surface for connection to a support, the pivot axis being in a pivot plane, perpendicular to the connection surface,
the cover being assembled on an arm of the fork, the cover,
said arm comprising a plurality of housings,
the cover comprising a plurality of bores, defining with the tappings two sets of passages adapted to receive fixing elements, said two housing sets defining a first position and a second position of the cover relative to the fork,
said cover comprising at least one hydraulic conduit, opening in a direction inclined relative to the pivot axis,
the assembly being configured so that in the first position and in the second position of the cover relative to the fork, said at least one hydraulic conduit is inclined at an angle greater than 10° relative to the pivot plane.

In one example, the arm includes a first indicator and a second indicator, the indicators being configured such that only the first indicator is visible when the cover is in the first position, and only the second indicator is visible when the cover is in the second position. The indicators are typically visual elements etched into the fork.

According to one example, said assembly is configured such that in the first position and in the second position of the cover relative to the fork, said at least one conduit is inclined at an angle of between 10° and 30° relative to the pivot plane.

According to one example, said assembly is configured such that in the first position and in the second position of the cover relative to the fork, said at least one conduit is inclined at an angle of between 10° and 20° relative to the pivot plane.

In one example, the first position and the second position of the cover relative to the fork are symmetrical about the pivot plane.

According to one example, the arm comprises a number of housings at least 30% greater than the number of holes in the cover, or typically at least 50% greater than the number of holes in the cover.

According to one example, said at least one hydraulic conduit opens in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis.

According to one example, said assembly comprises a hydraulic machine mounted to rotate relative to the fork along the pivot axis, for example a hydraulic machine with radial pistons, the hydraulic machine having a first assembly and a second assembly movable in rotation relative to each other in an axial direction.

The axial direction is typically perpendicular to the pivot axis.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood upon reading the detailed description given below of different embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples.

There is an overview of an exemplary assembly comprising a hydraulic machine rotatably mounted on a fork.

There represents another view of such a set.

There is a view of an example of realization.

There is another view of an example of realization.

There is another view of an example of realization.

In all figures, common elements are identified by identical numerical references.

The figures show a fork 100 forming a support for a hydraulic machine 200.

The hydraulic machine 200 is typically a hydraulic machine with radial or axial pistons, and has a first assembly and a second assembly movable in rotation relative to each other in an axial direction X-X, typically corresponding to an axis of a shaft of the hydraulic machine 200.

The hydraulic machine 200 is for example coupled to a member such as a wheel, a rim or any other member ensuring the movement of a vehicle or machine.

The fork 100 forms a support for defining a pivot axis Z-Z between the hydraulic machine 200 and the fork 100. The fork 100 is typically assembled on a frame; the pivot axis Z-Z thus makes it possible to define the orientation of a member driven in rotation by the hydraulic machine 200. The arms 120 and 130 each have a through hole defining the pivot axis Z-Z.

The pivot axis Z-Z is typically perpendicular to the axial direction X-X of the hydraulic machine 200, or inclined at an angle of between 60 and 90° relative to the axial direction X-X of the hydraulic machine 200. The fork 100 and the hydraulic machine 200 typically form a rotating joint ensuring the continuity of hydraulic lines between the hydraulic machine 200 and the fork 100.

The fork 100 as shown includes a base 110 and two arms 120 and 130 extending from the base 110.

The base 110 as illustrated has a general plate shape, and has an internal face 112 and an external face 116. The internal face 112 corresponds to a face of the base 110 oriented towards the hydraulic machine 200, while the external face 116 is typically adapted to be secured to a support or chassis. It is understood that the external face 116 more generally designates a portion of the base 110 opposite the internal face 112 and adapted to be secured to a support or chassis. The external face 116 is considered to be flat, although this is not limiting.

A pivot plane is defined for the fork, which is identified by the Y-Y axis in the figures. This pivot plane is perpendicular to the Z-Z pivot axis, and perpendicular to the internal face 112 of the base 110. More generally, the Y-Y pivot plane forms a central axis of the connection between the fork 100 and a support or chassis. In the case where the external face 116 of the base 110 is not flat, the Y-Y pivot plane can be defined as being perpendicular to the Z-Z pivot axis, and perpendicular to a median connection plane between the fork 110 and a support.

Such a fork 100 is typically referred to as a C-frame fork.

One of the arms 120 and 130 is topped with a cover 300.

In the example illustrated, it is the arm 120 which is surmounted by the cover 300. It is understood that this example is not limiting, and can be transposed to the case where it is the arm 130 which is surmounted by the cover 300.

The cover 300 forms an upper end of a rotating joint formed in the pivot formed between the hydraulic machine 200 and the fork 100. The cover thus forms one end of the pivot connection between the hydraulic machine 200 and the fork 100.

The cover 300 is assembled on an external face of one of the arms, here the arm 120 of the fork 100. The cover 300 thus has a plurality of through holes 340 adapted to allow the passage of fixing elements such as screws or bolts. In the example illustrated, the cover 300 has 6 holes 340, distributed in pairs. These holes 340 are individually designated by the references 341, 342, 343, 344, 345 and 346.

The arm 120 of the fork 100 has housings 140, typically threads, adapted to receive the fixing elements and thus allow the assembly of the cover 300 on the arm 120. The housings 140 are notably visible on the These housings 140 are individually designated by the references 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148 and 149.

The arm 120 has a number of housings 140 greater than the number of holes 320 of the cover 300. In the example illustrated, the cover 300 has 6 holes 320 while the arm 120 has 9 housings 140. More generally, the arm 120 has a number of housings 140 at least 30% greater than the number of holes 320 of the cover 300, or at least 50% greater than the number of holes 320 of the cover 300.

This number of housings 140 greater than the number of holes 320 makes it possible to define two configurations and thus two relative positions of the cover 300 in relation to the arm 120.

In the example illustrated, the holes 320 are arranged in pairs in the cover 300. The housings 140 are arranged in groups of 3.

The holes 340 are thus grouped in pairs: 341 and 342, 343 and 344, 345 and 346. The housings 140 are thus grouped according to the following groups of 3: 141, 142 and 143, 144, 145 and 146, 147, 148 and 149. It is understood that these groupings are given for illustration purposes, and are not limiting.

The holes 340 and the housings 140 are configured so as to define two relative positions of the cover 300 with respect to the fork 100, such that in each of these positions, each hole 340 of the cover 300 is opposite a housing 140 of the arm 120 of the fork 100, and thus a fixing element can be inserted into each housing 140 through a hole 340 of the cover 300.

We thus define a first position, in which:
- drilling 341 is aligned with housing 141,
- drilling 342 is aligned with housing 142,
- drilling 343 is aligned with housing 144,
- drilling 344 is aligned with housing 145,
- drilling 345 is aligned with housing 147, and
- drilling 346 is aligned with housing 148.

This first position is represented on the .

A second position is also defined, in which:
- drilling 341 is aligned with housing 142,
- drilling 342 is aligned with housing 143,
- drilling 343 is aligned with housing 145,
- drilling 344 is aligned with housing 146,
- drilling 345 is aligned with housing 148, and
- drilling 346 is aligned with housing 149.

This second position is represented on the .

The configuration presented in which the arm 120 has a number of housings 140 50% greater than the number of holes 320 of the cover 300 makes it possible to use one of the housings of each group of 3 in both positions, the other two housings of each group of 3 only being used in one or the other of the positions.

It is understood that other configurations are possible, in particular by having a number of housings 140 twice the number of holes 340, which makes it possible for example to define two distinct positions, in which the housings 140 are each specific to a single position.

The fork 100 typically has an indicator 330 such as a visual cue or a key adapted to provide a visual indication to a user for assembling the cover 300 on the fork 100 in the first position or the second position. The indicators 330 are typically visual cues, etched into the fork 100.

In the illustrated example, the fork 100 has two indicators 330, which are here letters L and R referring to left and right. These indicators 330 are positioned so that only one of these indicators 330 is visible when the cover 300 is in the first position, and only the other of these indicators 330 is visible when the cover 300 is in the second position.

Thus, the user who assembles the cover 300 on the fork 100 can directly ensure the correct positioning of the cover 300.

The cover 300 comprises one or more hydraulic conduits 310, thus making it possible to connect hydraulic conduits or connectors secured to a frame or a support to which the fork 100 is fixed.

The hydraulic conduits 310 typically open in a conduit direction perpendicular to the pivot axis Z-Z, or form an angle of between 60° and 90° relative to the pivot axis Z-Z. More generally, a conduit plane V-V passing through the pivot axis Z-Z is defined, such that the different hydraulic conduits 310 each open in a direction parallel to the conduit plane V-V. In the case where the cover 300 comprises several hydraulic conduits 310, the conduit plane V-V may for example form a plane of symmetry relative to the different conduits, or a median plane to the different conduits.

The first position and the second position are configured such that in each of these positions, the conduit plane V-V forms a non-zero angle A relative to the pivot plane Y-Y. Figures 4 and 5 show the conduit planes V1-V1 and V2-V2 corresponding respectively to the conduit plane in the first position and in the second position, and the respective angles A1 and A2.

The angle between the duct plane and the pivot plane is typically greater than 10°, or typically between 10° and 30°, or for example between 10° and 20°, or for example equal to or substantially equal to 15°.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the first position and the second position are symmetrical with respect to the pivot plane Y-Y; the angles A1 and A2 are thus equal in absolute value.

Such a configuration makes it easier to connect cables and hydraulic fittings to the hydraulic conduits 310 of the cover 300. Indeed, such conduits are typically rigid, but the usual structures offer a unique positioning in which the hydraulic conduits 310 are aligned with the Y-Y pivot plane and therefore open directly towards the chassis or support, which makes assembly and maintenance operations complex.

The proposed structure allows the use of a single element which can be adapted to two configurations, and facilitates assembly operations.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, it is obvious that modifications and changes may be made to these examples without departing from the general scope of the invention as defined by the claims. In particular, individual features of the various illustrated/mentioned embodiments may be combined in additional embodiments. Therefore, the description and drawings are to be considered in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

It is also obvious that all the characteristics described with reference to a method are transposable, alone or in combination, to a device, and conversely, all the characteristics described with reference to a device are transposable, alone or in combination, to a method.

Claims (9)

Set comprising a fork (100) and a cover (300),
the fork (100) comprising a base (110) adapted to be assembled on a support, and two arms (120, 130) each having a recess (124, 134) passing through aligned along a pivot axis (ZZ) so as to define a housing adapted to receive a hydraulic machine (200), the base (110) defining a surface for connection to a support, the pivot axis (ZZ) being in a pivot plane (YY), perpendicular to the connection surface,
the cover (300) being assembled on an arm (120) of the fork (100), the cover (300),
said arm (120) comprising a plurality of housings (140),
the cover (300) comprising a plurality of bores (340), defining with the tappings (120) two sets of passages adapted to receive fixing elements, said two housing sets defining a first position and a second position of the cover (300) relative to the fork (100),
said cover (300) comprising at least one hydraulic conduit (310), opening in a direction (VV) inclined relative to the pivot axis (ZZ),
the assembly being configured so that in the first position and in the second position of the cover (300) relative to the fork (100), said at least one hydraulic conduit (310) is inclined at an angle greater than 10° relative to the pivot plane (ZZ). The assembly of claim 1, wherein the arm (120) comprises a first indicator (330) and a second indicator (330), said indicators (330) being configured such that only the first indicator (330) is visible when the cover (300) is in the first position, and such that only the second indicator (330) is visible when the cover (300) is in the second position. Assembly according to one of claims 1 or 2, configured so that in the first position and in the second position of the cover (300) relative to the fork (100), said at least one conduit (310) is inclined at an angle of between 10° and 30° relative to the pivot plane (Y-Y). Assembly according to claim 3, configured so that in the first position and in the second position of the cover (300) relative to the fork (100), said at least one conduit (310) is inclined at an angle of between 10° and 20° relative to the pivot plane. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the first position and the second position of the cover (300) relative to the fork (100) are symmetrical relative to the pivot plane (Y-Y). Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the arm comprises a number of housings (140) at least 30% greater than the number of holes (340) of the cover (300). Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6, in which said at least one hydraulic conduit (310) opens in a direction perpendicular to the pivot axis (Z-Z). Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a hydraulic machine (200) mounted to rotate relative to the fork (100) along the pivot axis (Z-Z), the hydraulic machine (200) having a first assembly and a second assembly movable in rotation relative to each other in an axial direction (X-X). An assembly according to claim 8, wherein the axial direction (X-X) is perpendicular to the pivot axis (Z-Z).